AimTo investigate the relationship between ambulatory blood pressure parameters and arterial stiffness in prehypertensive patients.MethodsAccording to their blood pressure level, 204 individuals were divided into three groups: namely normotensive controls (n=63), prehypertensive participants (n=74) and hypertensive patients (n=67).The 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was used to record 24 h systolic blood pressure (24h SBP), 24 h diastolic blood pressure (24h DBP), daytime systolic blood pressure (dSBP), daytime diastolic blood pressure (dDBP), nighttime systolic blood pressure (nSBP), nighttime diastolic blood pressure (nDBP), 24 h pulse pressure (24h PP), daytime pulse pressure (dPP) and nighttime pulse pressure (nPP).Carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (crPWV) was obtained by Complior device.Results24h SBP, 24h DBP, dSBP, dDBP, nSBP, 24h PP, dPP and nPP were higher in prehypertensive than those in normotensives, but lower in hypertensives (p<0.05 or p<0.01).The crPWV in prehypertensives was 9.67±1.12 m/s, which was higher than that in normotensives (8.27±0.99 m/s), but was lower in hypertensives (10.55±1.71 m/s).Multiple linear regression analysis showed that 24h SBP, 24h PP and nSBP were risk factors for crPWV (β=0.385, 0351 and 0.247；all p<0.05).ConclusionArterial stiffness had been increased in prehypertensives.24h SBP, 24h PP and nSBP are the important influencing factors of arterial stiffness.